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Take a first look at revitalized heritage building 1 Spadina Crescent

University of Toronto classes at the 19th century Gothic Revival building — which will be known as the Daniels Building, following multi-million dollar gifts to the faculty from John H. Daniels and Myrna Daniels — are set to start in September.

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$69 million project has kept 19th century Gothic Revival building under construction for 4 years

Classes at the 19th century Gothic Revival building — which will be known as the Daniels Building, following multi-million dollar gifts to the faculty from John H. Daniels and Myrna Daniels — are set to start in September. (CBC News)

For roughly four years, 1 Spadina Crescent has been under construction.

But at Doors Open over the weekend, Toronto residents got a first look at the renewed heritage building that's officially set to open this fall as the new home of the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

(CBC News)

Classes at the 19th century Gothic Revival building — which will be known as the Daniels Building, following multi-million dollar gifts to the faculty from John H. Daniels and Myrna Daniels — are set to start in September.

"1 Spadina Crescent, which is the site of the building, is probably one of the most landmarked sites in the city of Toronto, and maybe even in Canada," said Richard Sommer, dean of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at U of T.

(CBC News)

The revitalization project started in 2012, with construction beginning in 2014. The cost for the construction is $69 million, including building, site redevelopment and landscaping.

To date, $30 million in private gifts has been pledged to the project, according to the university.

(CBC News)

Old building 'back to its historic bones'

Before the project, the 1 Spadina site was sitting for a long time in disrepair, Sommer said.

"We've renovated the old building, and brought it back to its historic bones, and built a new addition to the north," he continued.

That contemporary addition is made of glass, stone and steel.

The eye-catching new look was designed by Nader Tehrani and Katherine Faulkner, principals of the internationally acclaimed firm NADAAA, in collaboration with architect-of-record Adamson & Associates, landscape architects Public Work, and heritage architects ERA.